‘Aftertaste’ Durham Fringe review
‘gently reminds us that romantic love can be complicated, fleeting, and sometimes disappointing, but the steady, patient love of a platonic friendship can be just as powerful, if not more so.’
Intimate, funny, and quietly affecting, Katie Procter’s Aftertaste at the Gala Theatre’s Studio brought a refreshing sense of relatability to Durham Fringe.
Told through a series of short, sharply-observed scenes, the play follows Juniper as she tries to patch herself back together after a break-up, testing the waters of dating again. Yet what makes the production stand out isn’t the string of romantic encounters, though they’re performed with charm and humour, but rather the deep, believable friendship at its heart.
Aaliyah Angir as Juniper and Robyn Bradbury as her best friend Mads have an easy, lived-in chemistry that feels instantly real. There’s an authenticity in the way they tease each other, share glances, and slip between laughter and quiet understanding. Bradbury brings infectious energy to Mads, never letting the character become a simple comic sidekick. Beneath the jokes is genuine concern, which adds warmth and emotional depth to their scenes. Angir’s Juniper is equally compelling, shifting naturally between guarded humor and moments of raw honesty. Together, they capture that special kind of friendship where someone knows you better than anyone else, and where love isn’t always spoken outright but shown in small gestures.
The production design strengthens this sense of authenticity. The set, cluttered and cozy, feels like a real student bedroom full of lived-in details. Subtle lighting changes help mark shifts in mood and time, giving the play a rhythm that feels both playful and reflective.
While Juniper’s encounters with men provide humor and variety, the script arguably gives them a bit too much space in some instances, which occasionally draws focus away from the friendship that truly carries the story. That said, each actor makes the most of these moments, and the humour of these scenes adds a light-hearted tone to the overall appeal of the show.
Noah Benson’s Tom is endearingly awkward, allowing the audience to really capture the angst of Juniper’s romantic adventures. Ben Cawood gives Michael a smug confidence that remains oddly charming yet infuriating at the same time. Likewise, Rowan Sutton’s portrayal of the entitled Max perfectly captures the play’s overall frustration at the modern dating scene, adding a sense of humour that often provoked strong reactions from the audience. Their performances bring fresh energy and keep the pacing lively, even if it’s the scenes with Mads that linger longest in the mind.
The appeal of Aftertaste is that many of these characters can be observed in real life interactions, and this adds to the overall warmth and ease of the play. What stays with you at the end isn’t a particular date or breakup, but the tenderness of two young women looking out for each other. It’s a friendship that holds space for mistakes, heartbreak, and messy feelings, without ever demanding perfection.
In the end, Aftertaste is both funny and heartfelt. It gently reminds us that romantic love can be complicated, fleeting, and sometimes disappointing, but the steady, patient love of a platonic friendship can be just as powerful, if not more so. It’s this celebration of ordinary, everyday closeness that gives the play its warmth and makes it more than just another story about dating and heartbreak.
By Niamh Williams.
Aftertaste is showing at the Studio, Gala Theatre on Sunday 27th July at 16:00.